However, Abete is firmly in Boateng's corner, as the official clarified himself after a meeting with the chief of police.

"We must not worry about fixture lists or difficulty in organising a re-match," the president said.

"That is not the problem. The problem is taking away from the stadiums those people who don’t belong there, because they pollute the civilised coming together for a sporting event.

"If necessary, we are prepared to suspend games on a temporary or permanent basis to fight racist abuse.

"The sporting world strongly supports sending these people away from the stadiums with stronger bans and more capability to expel from the arenas those who do not have the right to stay in a sporting venue."